Analysis of urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase by capillary zone electrophoresis

N-Acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), a glycosidase enzyme, present in serum, urine and the renal lysosomes is utilized clinically as an early marker for renal damage preceding the elevation of both blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. NAG is analyzed by CE after incubation of urine samples with the synthetic substrate methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucosaminide. The reaction mixture is introduced directly into the instrument without further treatment. The released reaction product, 4-methyl-umbelliferone, is separated at 13.2 kV in a 400 mM borate buffer, pH 8.1. Detection was achieved with either ultraviolet absorption or with fluorescence. The fluorescence detection was more sensitive and gave cleaner electropherograms. The CZE method correlated well with an automated kinetic fluorescent assay. 4-Methyl-umbelliferone conjugated to different substrates is used in the analysis of many enzymes involved in the inborn errors of metabolism.